Snowy Owl
Owl!
Despite their round heads, snowy owls
have tiny tufts of feathers on their heads, which is what makes them owls!
The male has white plumage, while the female has white plumage with black markings, which helps her remain inconspicuous while brooding. The nest is built on the ground in a small depression. The female lays 3 to 12 eggs from April to June, depending on the availability of prey.
During very harsh winters, she migrates south. This is how this diurnal owl has, on rare occasions, been observed in northern France.
IUCN status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)
Description
Bubo scandiacus
Strigidae
1,3 to 2,6kg
55 to 65cm
Arctic tundra
Vulnerable
10 to 14 years
Did you know?
In 1987, the National Assembly designated it as Quebec’s official bird emblem. The snowy owl symbolizes the whiteness of Quebec winters, the region’s deep roots in a semi-arctic climate, and its vast geographical expanse.
Food
It feeds mainly on rodents called lemmings and sometimes on birds as well.
